Palmer Township Hires Three Part-Time Police Officers

Police chief pleased department is up to full staff.

Palmer Township just got a little safer. The Board of Supervisors, at its first meeting in a month Tuesday night, approved a recommendation by Police Chief Bruce W. Fretz to hire three part-time officers. The officers are Kenneth J. McPherson of Easton, Patrick A. Clinese of Pen Argyl and Nathan J. Correll of Wind Gap. They were sworn in by Supervisor David E. Colver, who read the oath to them. "Thanks for supporting these guys and we look forward to seeing them in uniform soon," Colver told family and friends who had gathered to witness the swearing-in ceremony. They were greeted with a round of applause and handshakes from each supervisor. The officers met the standard qualifications and certifications for employment, the chief said. Two…

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Hurricane Irene

Flood Relief for Palmer

Residents can apply for federal assistance for Hurricane Irene damage

Palmer Township residents who suffered damage to their homes and properties in the wake of Hurricane Irene can now apply for individual federal assistance. The Northampton County Division of Emergency Management Services has alerted the township about the following provisions for possible disaster recovery assistance for Northampton County residents from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For information on Disaster Assistance, please call: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Residents can also apply for assistance on FEMA's website at: http://www.disasterassistance.gov/ while mobile users may visit http://m.fema.gov/ FEMA said disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, …

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Lawmakers Propose Using Surplus to Fund Flood Restorations

The hope is that the use of state funds will supplement federal assistance.

By Caleb Taylor | PA Independent State lawmakers plan to spend about $270 million in state funds to pay for damages caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. To do so, lawmakers say they will use some of last year’s extra tax revenue, borrow additional funds and re-arrange up to $20 million in this year’s budget. Two bills, announced at a Monday news conference in Harrisburg by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Pike, and state Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia, target how this money would be spent.  Baker's bill would establish a state treasury fund from which an additional $10,000 would be given to individuals or families who meet federal guidelines for disaster assistance. Gordner's proposal would authorize a bond sale for up to $250 million …

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Lehigh Valley Faces Flood Watch

Expected rain Friday, Saturday may soak Forks, Palmer, region.

  The Morning Call is reporting that the Lehigh Valley is under a flood watch with heavy rains expected Friday and Saturday. Forks and Palmer townships were among many area municipalities that suffered significant flooding due to Hurricane Irene. According to the National Weather Service, August 2011 was the soggiest August on record.    

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Palmer Hopes to Receive FEMA Funding for Irene Cleanup

Initial assessments have $100,000 covered.

Palmer Township could get financial assistance from the federal government to help cover the costs from Hurricane Irene damage. According to township manager Chris Christman, an initial site assessment by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently came back with an estimated $100,000 in reimbursable expenses. The funds will help assist in paying for damage done to municipal parks and municipal manpower hours spent in preparation and cleanup. Not released so far, Christman said, are the actual hours and total cost involved in preparation and cleanup. Township Director of Public Works Tom Adams is currently putting those figures together.

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Forks Issues Hurricane Prep and Cleanup Costs

Nearly $10,000 spent in two-day effort

The figures are in and Forks Township's  cleanup costs from Hurricane Irene approached $10,000, while sewage caused costly damage to a home and a well-known restaurant, according to a township report. Another well-known restaurant also was damaged. Municipal costs for the two-day cleanup effort throughout the township totaled $9,357.87, according to a report from township public works director Mark Roberts. In all, 141 municipal manpower hours -- overtime hours -- at a cost of $4,822 were worked to assist in the cleanup, the report said. Preparation and cleanup items included setting up an emergency generator at the Public Works facility, checking road conditions, setting up barricades due to flooding at various locations on both municipal…

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Irene, Lee to Blame for Sinkholes in Tatamy Development

A transformer between two properties in the Tatamy Hunt development is almost swallowed by four sinkholes.

When Mother Nature wreaks havoc, who is to blame? In the case of two Tatamy families, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee are the ones to blame for the reopening of one sinkhole -- it initially opened on July 9 -- and the creation of three more in between their properties in the Tatamy Hunt development. “We have two small boys, a 2-year-old and an 8-year-old,” said Elizabeth Corrigan, who owns one of the properties on Millbrook Court. “My neighbors, the Nadolskis, also have two boys, an 8-year-old and a 15-year-old. We are extremely concerned for their safety as well as for all of the children in the neighborhood.” After Hurricane Irene stormed her way through the Lehigh Valley on Aug. 27 and 28, the 3-foot-by-4-foot sinkhole from July …

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Mallory Vough

7:04 pm on Monday, September 12, 2011

Ah! So many sinkholes, so little time! ;-)   more ›

Frost Hollow Residents Raise Funds for Flood Victims

Children sold peanut butter and jelly

Young residents of the Frost Hollow Knowles neighborhood in Forks Township got together Saturday to help raise funds for those affected by the recent flooding in the Easton area. A peanut butter and jelly stand was set up and the treats were sold by the spoonful.

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